The Republican majority in the US House of Representatives excluded Representative Ilhan Omar from the African Affairs Committee in Congress, which Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy attributed - in press statements - to her "opposition to Israel."

The Congressional African Affairs Committee is a subdivision of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs that has jurisdiction over diplomatic and national security matters, including foreign aid, war powers, and international sanctions enforcement.

Since the Republicans won control of the House of Representatives last November, McCarthy promised to make efforts to exclude Ilhan Omar from the committee, and said in press statements, "I remember what she said about Israel. She promised last year that she would not be in foreign affairs anymore. I I keep this promise."

The Muslim-American lawmaker described her exclusion as "discrimination, racism and hatred of people of foreign origin."

As the only African born, not being on the Africa subcommittee is not just an elimination of a unique voice but an elimination of all the voices that have never been heard on a committee on the continent.

It's racist, xenophobic and discriminatory.

- Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 26, 2023

"As the only politician born in Africa, my absence on the subcommittee on Africa is not just the nullification of a unique voice, it is the annihilation of all voices that have never before been heard on any committee on the continent," Omar said in a tweet.

In another previously published tweet, the American politician rejected the Speaker's statement that the decision to exclude her came because she opposes Israel.

“It would be odd to me that members would not support [the removal decision] based upon her comments against Israel,” McCarthy said Tuesday night.

No, but it would be odd to remove members from their committee because they spoke out against Israel.

https://t.co/bjSMHsiiGO

- Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 26, 2023

A number of American activists and politicians have denounced what has been described as "bias" against Ilhan Omar.

Minnesota State Representative Betty McCollum said, "House GOP leaders promote the pro-Trump MAGA ideology that trades in threats of hate and violence, and this is evident in their targeting of Representative Ilhan Omar, Representative Adam Schiff and Representative Eric Swalwell in a petty vendetta that undermines democracy and threatens their safety, worthy residents Minnesota and all Americans are better than that."

House GOP leaders are promoting MAGA Republicans who traffic in hate & violent threats, while targeting Rep.

@Ilhan Omar, @RepAdamSchiff, and @RepSwalwell in a petty vendetta that undermines democracy & threatens their safety.

Minnesotans and all Americans deserve better.

— Rep.

Betty McCollum (@BettyMcCollum04) January 26, 2023

And about her exclusion from the committee because of her position on Israel, former deputy and presidential candidate Joe Walsh said, "I am very pro-Israel, and Ilhan and I may differ a lot when it comes to Israel, but excluding her from her committee because she is not pro-Israel enough is weak and wrong and sets a bad precedent." Do Republicans believe that everyone serving on a committee should have the same beliefs?

I'm very pro-Israel.

@IlhanMN & I probably disagree on much when it comes to Israel.

But to remove her from her committee bcuz she's not "pro-Israel enough" is weak, wrong & sets a bad precedent.

Do Republicans believe everyone serving on a committee must have the same beliefs?

https://t.co/6Q3CwP1o5Y

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) January 26, 2023

For his part, the deputy and leader of the Democratic minority, Hakeem Jeffreys, confirmed the position of the Democrats in support of the necessity of having Ilhan Omar in the Congressional Foreign Affairs Committee, and added, "The Republicans must accept that."

Hakeem Jeffries "strongly" supports Rep.

Ilhan Omar serving on the House Foreign Affairs Committee after years of her making antisemitic and inflammatory remarks.

pic.twitter.com/E29oeBbsgA

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 26, 2023

Ilhan Omar.. the first veiled woman in Congress

Ilhan Omar, an American politician of Somali origin, belongs to the Democratic Party, and won membership in the Minnesota House of Representatives in November 2016, becoming the first veiled Muslim in the United States legislature.

Although Ilhan is not the first Muslim woman to enter the American legislative assemblies, she is the first to enter those councils with the veil, which is a great symbolism that sparked controversy, especially since her election coincided with the presidential elections that took place in November 2016 and was won by Republican Donald Trump, who had He made anti-Muslim remarks.

Ilhan was beaten by people at a party gathering in 2014 because of her hijab, which she decided to wear after the attacks of September 11, 2001, "as an open declaration of her identity," as she described it.

Even after she was elected to the House of Representatives, Ilhan was always critical of Israeli policies towards the Palestinians, and called for supporting movements calling for a boycott of Israel, which angered many right-wing politicians, led by McCarthy.

Listening and learning, but standing strong 💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/7TSroSf8h1

- Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 11, 2019

Ilhan was often attacked by the former president, who once demanded her resignation.

It is full that House Democrats won't take a stronger stand against Anti-Semitism at their conference.

Anti-Semitism has fueled atrocities throughout history and it's inconceivable they will not act to condemn it!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 6, 2019

Ilhan responded to Trump's attack on her by tweeting, in Arabic and English, on her page, saying, "Lord, forgive my people, for they do not know."

Lord, forgive my people, for they do not know

My Lord, forgive my people for they do not know.

https://t.co/mtEzMrCLKF

- Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) April 7, 2019